Wheelchair facts for kids

A modern wheelchair in a restaurant.

A wheelchair is a special type of chair that helps people move around when they find it hard or impossible to walk. It's a very important tool for many people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses.

How Wheelchairs Work

Wheelchairs can be moved in a couple of ways. Some are manual wheelchairs. These are pushed by the person sitting in them, using their hands on the wheels. Or, someone else can push the wheelchair from behind using handles.

Other wheelchairs are electric wheelchairs. These have motors and are powered by electricity. The person in the wheelchair can control it with a joystick or other controls. Sometimes, if the user needs help, someone walking nearby can also control it.

Who Uses Wheelchairs?

People use wheelchairs when walking is difficult or not possible. This can be because of a sickness, an injury, or a disability they were born with or developed.

Wheelchairs can be made more comfortable and supportive. Extra cushions and special parts can be added. This helps the user sit in a good position, especially if they need more support for their body.

A Look at Wheelchair History

Wheelchairs have been around for a long time! The first records of wheelchairs in England date back to the 1670s. In other parts of Europe, like Germany, this technology was used even earlier, during a time called the Renaissance.

Images for kids

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  A modern lightweight manual wheelchair

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  Depiction of Chinese philosopher Confucius in a wheelchair, dating to around 1680.

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  Folding and stackable chairs for visitors at NÄL hospital, Sweden.

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  A standing wheelchair with electric four-wheel drive and standing functions.

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  A modern racing wheelchair.

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  US vs. France, FIPFA World Cup, Tokyo, Japan, October 2007.

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  A tracked all-terrain wheelchair.

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  A chair with four wide, balloon-style wheels is in front of a fence at the beach. This is a beach wheelchair.

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  A wheelchair ramp and disabled parking space in California.

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  A gate designed for wheelchairs in Hiroshima.

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  Nicolas Grollier de Servière (1596–1689) Wheelchair in his Cabinet of curiosities.

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  A wooden wheelchair from the early 1900s.

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  A wheelchair from the 19th century.

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  A beach wheelchair at a public beach in the Netherlands.

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  A snow wheelchair at an outdoor park.

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  A Leveraged Freedom Chair wheelchair user in Kenya. This chair is designed to be low-cost and work well on rough roads.

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  A wheelchair fitted with Mecanum wheels, shown at a trade fair in the early 1980s.

See also

In Spanish: Silla de ruedas para niños